Special guest host Lisa Chow of WNYC shares the story of a major pension scandal here in New York. Two placement agents, who essentially act as brokers between pension funds and Wall Street, are accused of taking kickbacks in return for providing special access to the state's pension fund. With the help of former comptroller Carl McCall, Chow explains why the relationship between private equity and pension funds is ripe for corruption.

The case has put a spotlight on the relationship between private equity and pension funds and it's raising all kinds of concerns beyond corruption. Since these funds are private, taxpayers don't know where the pension money is actually going. So what happens to the retirement of firefighters and garbage collectors if the private equity bubble pops? NYU Stern School of Business Professor Roy Smith explains how the two got together in the first place.